Relationship between intimate partner violence and unintended pregnancy: Evidence from Thailand

Previous studies suggest that intimate partner violence (IPV) is positively associated with a number of reproductive health problems. However, there is a lack of knowledge about the association between IPV and control over fertility among Thai women. This study aims to examine the association between unintended pregnancy and the level of IPV, and to explore the factors affecting unintended pregnancy among Thai women aged 15-49, using secondary data from the 2000 WHO Multi-country Study on Women's Health and Domestic Violence against Women, Thailand. About 41 percent of the respondents reported IPV in their life course. One-third of the respondents reported that their last pregnancy was unintended. Women who experienced unintended pregnancy were more likely to be younger, unmarried, have more children, be not financially autonomous, and of lower socio-economic status. Also women who engaged in risk behavior such as using alcohol, smoking, having a partner who had sexual relations with other women, and who had experienced any form of violence were more likely to report that their last pregnancy was unintended. Results of logistic regression showed the odds of unintended pregnancy for women who experienced both sexual and non-sexual violence was 2.4 times higher, only sexual violence was 2.7 times higher, and only physical violence was 1.5 times higher, compared to non-abused women. These findings strongly indicate the need for the development of appropriate IPV prevention and intervention programs to improve health of Thai women through social and political response.